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Your Child's Team

Your child's team includes you and a team of professionals. The team includes a number of people with knowledge and experience in many different health and education fields. As you begin to meet with professionals who will work with you and your child, you are building your team.

Sometimes teams of professionals work in the same place or facility — under "one roof" — like in a hospital or clinic. When you take your child for an appointment at a facility like this, all or most of the professionals can meet with you and your child. Such teams of professionals work closely with each other.

Other times, the professionals you want to see are not in the same building and may not even know one another. They may work far from each other. Even so, these professionals can work with you and your child as a team, and accomplish the same goals. But it is very important to make sure that your team communicates with each other about your child. You will want to encourage them to share information by telephone, fax or e-mail. You can also personally deliver or mail reports to the different team members.

Whatever your child's team looks like, remember YOU play a very important role. You are the team leader! You are hiring the team. The professionals you select should share information and their expertise, and you might want to share what you know about your child. Together, you will decide on the best plan for your child. But never forget — you have the final word.